For the first case mentioned above, the form of executive-branch arrangement is distinct from most other parliamentary and
semi-presidential republics that separate the head of state (usually designated as the "
president") from the head of government (usually designated as "
prime minister", "
premier" or "
chancellor") and subject the latter to the confidence of parliament and a lenient tenure in office while the head of state lacks dependency and investing either office with the majority of executive power.

However, in a parliamentary republic with a head of state whose tenure is dependent on parliament, the head of government and head of state can form one office (as in
Botswana, the
Marshall Islands,
Nauru,
South Africa and
Suriname), but the president is still selected in much the same way as the prime minister is in most
Westminster systems. This usually means that they are the leader of the largest party or coalition of parties in parliament.

In some cases, the president can legally have executive powers granted to them to undertake the day-to-day running of government (as in Austria and Iceland) but by convention they either do not use these powers or they use them only to give effect to the advice of the parliament or head of government. Some parliamentary republics could therefore be seen as following the semi-presidential system but operating under a parliamentary system.